Sugar Intake Might Speed Up Cellular Aging

New research indicates that high levels of added sugars may be more detrimental to metabolic health and early disease onset than any other dietary component. Furthermore, the research revealed that cells appeared more youthful in middle-aged women who included a higher amount of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants in their diets, compared to those who ate diets with fewer nutrients.

The assessment of cellular youthfulness was determined by examining chemical tags called methyl groups on the DNA surface. These tags adjust the activity of certain genes through a process called epigenetic modification, which does not change the underlying DNA sequence. As we age, the arrangement of these methyl groups shifts, a phenomenon thought to play a role in hastening cellular aging.

The study involved analyzing the dietary records of 342 black and white women, averaging 39 years old, over three non-consecutive days. The researchers rated each woman's diet according to its adherence to various recognized dietary guidelines. Additionally, they evaluated the amount of added sugar consumed, which varied from 0.1 to 11 oz. per day. To calculate the participants' epigenetic ages, the team examined DNA methylation in cells from saliva samples.

The results indicate that accelerated epigenetic aging from sugar is a key factor and suggests that excessive sugar intake may be one of several ways that it undermines healthy longevity. The study supports the notion that consuming nutritious foods low in added sugars can extend a person's duration of life spent in good health, rather than merely surviving.

These findings are among the first to link added sugar intake with epigenetic aging, utilizing second-generation epigenetic clocks. This study is also one of the first to examine such associations in a diverse group of black and white middle-aged women.

Nonetheless, further research is necessary to evaluate the long-term effects of these diets on epigenetic aging.

To view the original scientific study click below:
Essential Nutrients, Added Sugar Intake, and Epigenetic Age in Midlife Black and White Women